MANILA—Tropical Storm “Butchoy” gained more strength as it slowed down over the Pacific Ocean, making it highly likely to intensify into a typhoon, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration said Friday.
But even as Butchoy grew in force and size, it would not hit the country, the weather agency said.
In an advisory at 5 p.m. Friday, Pagasa said Butchoy was seen 500 kilometers east of Guian, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 110 kph near the center and gustiness of 140 kph.
The storm, which is carrying heavy rains, slowed down.
As of Friday afternoon, Butchoy was moving west northwest at 11 kph. On Thursday night, its speed was at 15 kph.
Butchoy also grew in size. The storm’s diameter increased to 450 km from 300 km on Thursday afternoon.
Butchoy’s slower pace and increased strength and size have made weather forecasters nervous.
Robert Sawi, chief of the forecasting division, said storms derive their energy from the sea. Thus, the longer a storm hovers above an ocean, the stronger it gets.
Aldczar Aurelio, a Pagasa forecaster, said there was an “80 percent possibility” that Butchoy could further intensify into a typhoon.
“It still has a long way to travel at sea,” Aurelio said.
He noted that with wind strength of 110 kph, Butchoy is nearing the threshold for typhoon classification.
Under Pagasa’s system, typhoons must have at least 118 kph maximum sustained winds near the center.
Forecasters said a high pressure area that extends to the Bicol region bore down on Butchoy, slowing down its northwesterly move.
“Once the high pressure area weakens, it will move faster northwest,” Pagasa said. Although Butchoy became more ferocious, Pagasa said it would spare the Philippines. Inquirer